WPA being an association of national psychiatric societies aims to increase knowledge and skills necessary for work in the field of mental health and the care for the mentally ill. WPA Sections are the scientific backbone of the WPA and they cover practically every aspect of psychiatry and enjoy a great degree of independence within the framework of the WPA Statutes and By-Laws. We are having more than 65 Sections that ate contributing in different areas of mental health and psychiatry. The broader purposes of the clusters of Sections are to promote and share scientific knowledge among the membership of WPA and I am pleased that over the years the Sections with able leadership of their officers have proved valuable and exceptional additions to the scientific knowledge in psychiatry and allied fields. More specifically, the purposes of the Sections, in accordance with item 29 of the existing WPA By-Laws, follow:

1. The collection, analysis, presentation and dissemination of information concerning services, research and training in the various fields of psychiatry and mental health and the advancement of scientific knowledge in these fields;2. The Sections will achieve this purposes by the:

i. Establishment of working relations with national and international organizations sharing the goals of the WPA in the field of the Section, with a view to achieving better coordination of activities of interest to the Section and the WPA;ii. Organization of scientific meetings on topics of interest to the Section;iii. Organization of Symposia dealing with the Section's specialty, at World Congresses of Psychiatry and other scientific meetings organized under the auspices of the WPA;iv. Development of educational programs, guidelines and publications;v. Development of proposals for adoption as WPA consensus and position statements;vi. Promotion and conduction of international collaborative research

The Sections hold elections every three years to elect Chair, Co-chair, and Secretary as well as five more committee members. Clustering of Sections, on the basis of common interest and activities, is encouraged. The purpose of the clusters of Sections is to promote collaboration among Sections, produce consensus or position statements, organize joint research and collaborate in joint scientific activities within meetings organized by the WPA and by other scientific organizations. The activity and productivity of each Section (e.g. symposia, publications, educational programs and consensus statements) are subject to evaluation by the Secretary for Sections and the Executive Committee.I am privileged having following new members being appointed for the Operational Committee on Sections during this triennium. They are experienced members of WPA and will extend valuable help during this term.

I do hope that during the current triennium, all Sections will continue with their excellent work and promising contributions in different areas of mental health. I can assure that WPA leadership will provide all possible assistance and would support to such activities. I as Secretary Sections would like to assist all of you rather than giving any directions as I believe that the chairs and the office bearers of Sections are the leaders in their respective fields and WPA office need to strengthen their efforts and activities.

I have been able to communicate with many of the Section Chairs and I did receive very helpful guidance and useful directions for our future work and more importantly a keen desire to make the Sections a strong component of WPA functioning. In our first EC meeting Pedro Ruiz, our president and all the EC members were very keen about making our Sections activities more visible and I can assure you that we would continue with our efforts in this regard.

As we would continue discussing the Sections activities, I would be very pleased to receive any suggestions from Section chairs and other office bearers about any proposals or advice.

I do look forward to working with all of you and let us continue in our efforts to keep WPA vibrant, active and more importantly a true representative body of psychiatrists.